Moorish
Idol(Zanclus cornutus)

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The
Moorish idol or Zanclus
cornutus
is a member of the
family Zanclidae. They are one of
approximately 120 species in 10 genera that are collectively refereed
to as
butterflyfish. This species habitat is extensive. It extends southward
form Japan throughout
all of Micronesia and the Indian
Ocean and then down to the
southern tip of east Africa. Populations
also exit
from Japan to the Hawaiian
Islands east to the Gulf of
California and south to Peru. This
species can be
found swimming anywhere from the surface to as deep as 550 feet.

The
Moorish idol is one of the most strikingly beautiful examples of marine
life. It has a compressed disk shaped body with a widely dispersed
vertical striping
pattern. Their bodies are bright white. There is an orange triangular
shaped
marking rimmed in black on their tubular snouts. They have a thick
black stripe
just behind their head, a second mid-body and a third on their white
tipped
caudal fin. A liberal amount of yellow pigmentation between these
vertical bars
compliments the white backdrop. Their long flowing sickle-shaped crest,
called
the philomantis extension, extends far beyond their tail fin. Legend
has it
that the Moorish idol received its name because the Moors of Africa
believed the
fish to be a bringer of good luck. In Hawaii
this fish is known as Kihikihi. The English translation is curves,
corners or
zigzags. This name refers to their body shape and color pattern.

This
is
not a timid species. It falls more into the moderately-peaceful
category. In a community setting it should be housed with
non-aggressive
species. Adults do not generally tolerate other members of their
species in the
confines of an aquarium. Although a male female couple can be kept
together
without incident. They are ill suited for marine reef aquariums. In
nature its
diet consists of reef invertebrates, coraline algae and sponges. This
species
is infamous for being generally destructive to substrate and anchored
aquarium
species. A minimum of a 100 gallon tank is recommended for this
species. They
will require plenty of wide open space to swim in.Idols
will grow to approximately 9 inches in
length.

Just looking at one of
these exotic beauties would tempt an uninformed
aquarist to purchase one. If you have considered owning one, you should
be
aware that this species has one of the highest fatality rates in the
commercial
aquarium trade. They are notorious
for their inability to acclimate to
life in
captivity. The fish typically ignores
food offerings or simply does not
recognize them as a source of nutrition. Their refusal to eat often
leads to
malnutrition and eventual death. Most idols die within the first year.
Even
expert aquarists have problems keeping this fish alive and healthy. It
is
highly recommended that you observe this fish eating before succumbing
to the
temptation to buy one. Juveniles have a higher probability rate of
making the
transitioning to life in an aquarium than adults.

Moors
are omnivores that are very accustomed to eating the foods they would
pick in nature. Coralline algae or sponge may stimulate this
fish’s desire to
eat. Live mysid and brine shrimp may break the hunger strike. Once they
start
feeding they can be fed vitamin enriched marine foods that contains
algae and Spirulina.
Their diet can be supplemented with chopped fresh or frozen shrimp,
clams and
squid. An abundance of live rock and living sand as a substrate will
also prove
beneficial. Idols should be fed 2 to 3 times a day.

If the elegant grace of
this animal is a temptation you can not surpass, you
may wish to check into a suitable alternative. The pennant coralfish (Heniochus
acuminatus) looks amazingly
similar
to a Moorish idol. They have an easy
care rating and will likely survive even in the hands of an
inexperienced aquarist.
They are also considerably less
expensive. They are in fact known in
the
aquarium industry as “The poorman’s Moorish
Idol.” This particular
species is
also marketed under the names black and white Heniochus, black and
white
butterflyfish, and longfinned bannerfish.